Today we’d like to introduce you to Virginia Sampson.
Hi Virginia, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I graduated from the university in my hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. – the University of Pittsburgh. I had lived a home and attended college because that is what my parents could afford. I got married and started a family. I thought I wanted to follow a traditional path of being a full time mother. However for economic and personal reasons I soon discovered that was not what would work for me. I applied to and was accepted to law school. I chose a school that had a summer program in the event I could not take a full case law as I had a baby. I had my second child in the middle of my fourth semester and I was pregnant with my third child my final semester. I was able to complete law school in three years.
I discovered that finding work as a female attorney especially a female attorney with three young children was difficult. This was the early 80s. The male attorneys who interviewed me would ask how many children I had, what my husband did for a living and what I did my children if they were sick. I took the first job I could get which was very low paying. I went into the civil litigation field which was a male dominated field. I was treated very badly by the other attorneys and many of the judges. I was a civil litigator handling Plaintiff’s injury cases and also we handled insurance defense cases. I went to trial fairly often.
I got divorced which made my work situtation even more tenuous. When I would ask for a raise or even try to look for a better paying job the men I worked for would tell me I was lucky to have a job and that no one else would hire me. Sexual harassment was common place. I could go on with more but I think that may be enough.
I remarried. My second husband died from ALS. I quit working for 3 years to take care of him. When he became ill our son was just 2 weeks old. So I had two middle schoolers, an infant and a high school student to care for along with my husband.
After he passed I became a municipal judge so I could have more regular hours. My two middle children struggled to deal with their pain and grief by taking drugs, drinking and breaking the law.
I have worked at firms and I now practice law on my own. I became more interested in elder law as a result of helping my parents and their friends navigate the aging process. My parents moved from Pittsburgh to Austin to live near me when my mother’s health started failing. I was their caregiver (not full time) for about 10 years.
As a result of my experiences, I became interested in the subject of compassion. I have taken several courses and I have written on the subject.
For the past 10 years, I have my own small practice of estate planning, probate, guardianship. I have become involved in litigation again in the probate & guardianship matters. I enjoy the flexibility of having my own practice and I enjoy helping my clients as they and/or their families navigate the aging process.
I don’t have any plans to retire. I have started an unrelated business that I would eventually like to transition to when I am ready to retire from law. I have four adult children and several grandchildren with whom I enjoy spending time. I also do some volunteer work by serving on the Board of a few charities.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Please see the previous answer.
There have been many professional and personal challenges.
I was a victim of domestic violence during my divorce.
Neither I nor my children were well – received (to put it mildly) when I was a divorced single parent in the early 1980s. There was no support and in fact we were treated rather badly by neighbors, schools and even my family.
My two middle children struggled with drugs, and alchol for almost ten years. I honestly didn’t know if they would ever stop and become stable adults. Fortunately they have.
I think there is more but this is probably enough.
We’ve been impressed with Law Office of Virginia Sampson, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am a solo practicioner. I focus on estate planning, probate and guardianship law. I really enjoy helping my clients. I constantly remind myself that while I have been through this before they have not. I strive to practice law compassionately and treat my clients the way I would want to be treated. Sometimes that means listening to their stories which I am happy to do- most of the time. My clients often can present with alot of issues and family conflict which can be difficult to navigate but that is what they need resolved and I do my best to help them. I have found myself often representing someone who I feel is being taken advantage of and/or being cheated. I like to help them get justice.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Aside from my reading and studying to keep abreast of developments in the legal field, I have read many books and articles on compassion and taken compassion training at the University of California at Berkeley and Stanford. They both have online programs that focus on compassion. I am currently reading “Into the Magic Shop” that was written by the founder of the Stanford University program.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.virginiasampsonlaw.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginia-sampson-130a7210/
